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News Release

OPM Conducts Seventh Emergency Preparedness Forum

OPM Trains 595 Emergency Professionals from 130 Federal Agencies and Sub-Agencies, and State and Local Experts on Emergency Preparedness since November 2003

Washington, DC - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) conducted a seventh emergency preparedness forum outlining steps agencies can take to prepare for an emergency, be it natural or man-made. The forum was attended by 86 government officials and focused on needs identified in OPM's 2004 Workplace Security Survey. The survey was issued governmentwide and assessed agencies' preparedness in a variety of key areas.

"I am encouraged by agencies' overwhelming receptivity to our on-going efforts to educate managers and emergency personnel on concrete steps they can take immediately to prepare for a potential disaster," stated OPM Director Kay Coles James. "It is critical that agencies continue to focus on emergency preparedness and ensure they are able to not only maintain the functions of government, should an event occur, but keep safety the primary focus and ensure the safety of their employees. The safety of America's civil servants is a priority of the President's, and it is a priority of mine."

In total, 595 emergency professionals from 130 federal agencies, sub-agencies, and state and local experts trained on emergency preparedness have attended the OPM seminars. Additional seminars have taken place in Boston and New York. A list of agencies and sub-agencies who have attended these sessions is attached.

The forum agenda included a detailed discussion on the results of the OPM Workplace Security Survey and showcased the emergency preparedness plan of GSA.

Additionally, panels of experts discussed teleworking, a critical component in preparing, planning and executing emergency preparedness plans, and agencies were encouraged to incorporate telework into their continuity of operations planning. Agency representatives were urged to consider the full range of possibilities about how and where their work is accomplished through the use of alternative worksites such as telecenters and employees' homes.

The federal government may, in extreme conditions, close all or some of its agencies as a result of certain events (i.e. weather, protests, terrorism) that prevent employees from physically reaching their official duty stations. Critical training is provided so the safety of the federal workforce is not compromised and the functionality of the government remains intact. The key to securing the government's ability to carry out basic agency functions during these events is advance planning and preparation, including the designation of emergency personnel.

List of Participating Agencies

and Sub Agencies SINCE November 2003

Administration for Children and Families

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Agricultural Research Service

Air national Guard

animal & Plant health inspection service

Architect of the Capitol

Armed Forces Retirement Home

Broadcasting Board of Governors

Bureaus of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement

Bureau of Industry and Security

Bureau of the Census

Bureau of the Land Management

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Centers for Disease Control

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Central Intelligence Agency

Civilian Personnel Management Service

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Court Services and offender Supervision Agency

Defense Contract Audit Agency

Defense Contract Management Agency

Defense Information Systems Agency

Defense Intelligence Agency

Defense Logistics Agency

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Defense

Department of Education

Department of Energy

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Department of Justice

Department of Labor

Department of State

Department of the Interior

Department of the Treasury

Department of Transportation

Department of Veterans Affairs

Election Assistance Commission

Employment Opportunity Commission

Environmental Protection Agency

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Executive Office of the President

Export-Import Bank of the United States

Farm Credit Administration

Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Communications Commission

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Executive Board

Federal Highway Administration

Federal Labor Relations Authority

Federal Maritime Commission

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Federal Trade Commission

Food and Drug Administration

General Accounting Office

General Services Administration

Government Printing Office

Health Resources and Services Administration

Institute of Museum and Library Services

Internal Revenue Service

International Broadcasting Bureau

International Trade Commission

Library of Congress

Maritime Administration

Merit Systems Protection Board

Military Entrance Processing Command

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Archives and Records Administration

National Business Center

National Credit Union Administration

National Endowment for the Humanities

National Gallery of Art

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

National Institutes of Health

National Labor Relations Board

National Mediation Board

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Park Service

National Science Foundation

National Security Agency

National Trade Administration

National Transportation Safety Board

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Office for Civil Rights

Office of Assistant Secretary of Administration and Management

Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

Office of Government Ethics

Office of Inspector General for Tax Administration

Office of Justice Programs

Office of National Security Coordination

Office of Personnel Management

Office of Special Council

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Peace Corps

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Program Support Center

Protective Operation Division for Security

Railroad Retirement Board

Research and Special Programs Administration

Securities and Exchange Commission

Selective Service System

Small Business Administration

Smithsonian Institution

Social Security Administration

Transportation Security Administration

U.S. Agency for Inter National Development

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Army

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Courts

U.S. Inter National Trade Commission

U.S. Navy

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

U.S. Senate

U.S Coast Guard

U.S. Postal Service

Veterans Benefits Administration

Washington Headquarters Service

Other:State of VirginiaDistrict of Columbia

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Our mission is to Recruit, Retain and Honor a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.